a relationship called i - part one

i-nternet

what kind of world are we living in? …

what will the next generation be like? …

what kind of society will my future children grow up in? …

these are questions i reflect on more and more with every passing day. nowadays, it is fairly easy to slip into a “cynic blues”. The road of cynicism is neverending and you end up spiralling downward into a place of darkness, a house without windows, brooding over a boiling pot of worries.   

one topic that addresses the current state of our young generation is that of ‘relationships’. yesterday, a study ("generation what") was released where 650,000 young people from across Europe were asked several questions.

the (frightening) result: they can do without 'God', but not without the internet.

their worship takes place at the altar of Google; their trinity is Facebook, Instagram and the ‘holy’ Tweet. their relationship to the iphone is more valuable and real than their relationship to a creator (or even their parents).

several years ago, one was able to predict a future where the ‘other’ – a living person – was going to be moved into the background of daily activities. at the rate we are going at, the virtual self is becoming more relevant and appealing than the actual ‘real’ self.

our conversations have been reduced to a brief chat until one person gets bored and pretends to have something better to do, but really just doesn’t want to spend any more time on you. the switch to another chat partner is done instantly, preventing (perhaps in most cases) a deep meaningful conversation.

our opinions and thoughts have been reduced to 144 characters. strangely, people often don’t even use that space (or publicity) to share anything significant. what is even more strange is that celebrities have arguments via twitter, exposing the absurdity of the entire twitter-verse.

our emotions are expressed by clicking ‘like’…and we should really express our ‘like’ or thumbs up for facebook granting us a few more ‘virtual feelings’, e.g. ‘wow’, ‘haha’, ‘love’ etc.

as a matter of fact, the way i currently feel about our future is a mix of ‘wow-haha-sad-angry-love’. it goes as far as having become a type of mantra or repetitive approach to global events.

whenever i read any news, i first think ‘wow’ – can this actually be true or happening?

then it goes ‘haha’ – either nervous laughter because it ACTUALLY is true and it IS happening or simply just an inner chuckle.

depending on the news, my emotions fluctuate between ‘sad’, ‘angry’, and ‘love’. although ‘love’ really comes on strong.

i feel sad because i know humanity could be destined for so much greater.

i get angry because i know injustice need not exist and the world could be a better place.

love, on the other hand, is solely reserved for pictures of kittens and other cute animals that make all the other previous emotions wash away.

in essence, that is why the internet is such a social phenomenon. nowhere – not even in a library – are you able to indulge yourself in all kinds of emotions…a rollercoaster or a firework of emotions, figuratively speaking.

the internet is an exciting thing and gives us the impression that we are free to do anything we want. for all the positive effects it could have on the world, it also harbours evil beyond all understanding.

the porn industry has never been more powerful and defiles the youngest of minds with horrendous images. ANYTHING can be found in the internet. there are no bounds…no limits to someone’s sordid imagination. the incongruity between a human-being enjoying the internet and another human physically being portrayed IN the internet and used for slavery is a fact.

the internet softens reality and makes it appear as a blurry spot – a tiny blemish on humanity’s historical record. the truth is that perhaps no invention since the clock has had this much of an impact on the shaping of society. it is changing EVERYTHING!  

without doubt, the internet is an amazing tool for those who know how to use it. but is there such a thing as a ‘right way’ to use the internet? if there is, it hasn’t been made clear in those sectors where people would learn about. i am referring to schools, who have an increased responsibility to teach the new generation how to approach the internet.

i am not talking about how to use Google or how to tweet. i would like to see how morality is addressed in a universe that has no boundaries.

of course young people have placed the internet on the throne of their daily lives. the internet doesn’t give them moral guidance (not specifically at least). it doesn’t teach them “right” from “wrong”.

it has one goal, and one goal only: to spew out information like a volcano spews out lava. our perception of information has significantly changed, because it is so readily available. ignorance or ‘not knowing’ is no longer a valid excuse.

“if you don’t know something, just Google it!”

we require a (moral) filter for all the information we receive on a daily basis. you and I have to decide what to do with the emotions provoked/evoked by the stuff we see/read/share. we have to decide what to believe. you cannot just take something at face value anymore. Everything must be questioned.

that, in itself, can be good. we require a generation that does question decisions made by people in power. at the same time, this generation has to answer the question whether God can exist. and if He/She/It does, whether He/She/It is worth more than Google.

personally, I have arrived at a place where the ‘Christian’ God is the only thing that makes sense to me and my relationship to Him is and “feels” just as (or sometimes even more) real than interacting with someone on Whatsapp.

questions left unanswered, with a relativist attitude lingering behind the scenes, will sooner or later turn someone into more than a cynic. A life without truth is a life of moral deficiency, because the truth is an absolute, just as ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.

therefore, i do not to leave any stone unturned. yet, while i pick it up, i remember who created it in the first place. i remember that, while I might be standing in sinking sand, God is the stick i can hold on to.

the internet may be my house, and that is totally fine. but He is the window that lets in light.  

a love called trump

it’s no secret that i am an impassioned political enthuasist.

especially when it comes to american politics.

one thing’s for certain: never has there been a nomination process quite like this before.

not even 2008, when Obama managed to rally a generation apathetic towards politics.

but now the world is seemingly worried that a man like donald trump has been handed the opportunity to become president.

america, the country that ushered the world into the globalised & terrorised 21st century, appears to be losing it.

america’s sovereignty and its hegemonic impact on the rest of the planet has come under scrutiny.

who is america?

i don’t believe one can compare the country to a man in a mid-life crisis.

more along the lines of an old emperor whose mind has been clouded by paranoia and greed.  

this emperor is no longer respected and has lost all credibility.

he is senile and tends to forget (or ignore) the past.

he believes to be invincible, but plays his people like pawns.

‘Erica’ is an old norse name referring to ‘one rule’, ‘eternal ruler’.

however, i seriously doubt that global citizens will be held at bay much longer and accept the western arrogance stemming from the u.s.

the eternal rule will most certainly come to its end in the near future.

we don’t know how or what that might look like.

the fall of an empire never happened in a pretty way.

Noam Chomsky, the world’s foremost intellectual activist, has written a new book entitled ‘who rules the world?’

indeed, this is a valid question and the answer probably factors in several ‘big players’, such as what Adam Smith referred to as “masters of mankind”

Chomsky reflects on this in a recent essay on the challenges of 2016.

today, these ‘masters’ are the “multinational conglomerates, huge financial institutions, retail empires” etc.

you and I, whether it be consciously or subconsciously, support them on a daily basis.

we consume their goods and then go sign a petition to get the company to reimburse workers that were exposed to toxic mercury.

we believe we’re indispensable, but which pawn ever was?

if you don’t buy it, somebody else will.

globalisation, as was predicted by some, did not turn out the way we may have thought it would.

not because the concept is bad or wrong, but because the execution only benefits a few.

even though cultures are coming together, mixing and mingling, there still is a sense that a truly globalised world could (or should) look different.

we still have borders and visas.

we are returning to history, to open the dark chapters.

vulnerability can be exploited.

the fact that we currently have 100,000’s of displaced Syrians trying to find a new home and life elsewhere is a tragedy.

on top of all that, the immigrations plan of countries like Germany has stirred up nationalist sentiments.

it’s obvious that Germany’s “perfect” unification and troublesome past has not been dealt with properly.

the shadows have returned to the light and are threatening a society that is already intercultural.

Germany is full of different cultures, religions and ethnicities.

on account of terrorism, our knees are being brought to the ground and we are called to bow down to fear-mongering.

astonishingly, there are many who are already lying face down on the ground, having capitulated to religious & racist bigotry.

in times like these, the choices we make can have a detrimental impact on the generations to come.

in times like these, we must hold on to the one thing that unites us all: LOVE

too often we forget to take the plank out of our own eye. If we did, we would realise that all our faults originate from a shared human experience.  

we throw the first stones, but instead we should be using those stones to build bridges.

unfortunately, bridges are burnt down faster than the time it took to build them in the first place.   

there might be water under the bridge, but the water may still be contaminated with bitter pills nobody can swallow.

i am going to say it:

there is a little trump in all of us.

we easily become that which we hate.

those terrorised, become the terrorists…or worse, the terrorisers.

wherever we find ourselves now, it is high-time to unite together under the banner of humanity.

it cannot be that we hate another human-being or deny him the life we would want for ourselves on the basis of his background.

I don’t frankly care what politics or economics have to say, because both these areas are soul-sucking monsters.

there is no justice or righteousness in politics or economics. Power comes and goes, companies go bankrupt and are bought out…heck, even banks themselves go bankrupt.

how many lessons do we have to learn or witness before we actually see things for what they truly are.

we should never let ourselves be the pawns. Even the greatest chess player knows that a pawn can be turned into any figure if it gets to the other side of the board.

and at the end, that pawn-turned-queen is worth more than the king.

let us direct our anger, frustration and dismay toward the right source.

there will be new hitlers, new stalins, new idi amin’s, new pol pots, and many more trumps.   

they can draw out hate and point at scapegoats, blaming everyone but themselves.

in the end, however, love trumps all!  

a society called death

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

The world is plagued by an infestation of the 'seven deadly sins manifested' in our society. These sins are quite real and have had a detrimental impact on every individual. Whether you believe in the spiritual concept of sin or not, the reality when we observe the world and its behaviour is that it is driving down the road of ruin rather than towards "Paradise City".

This post is not designed to be all doom and gloom, but in the past month I simply had certain revelations (mainly pertaining to 'greed'):

Nowadays, the 'fruits' we are reaping (or dust we are choking on) are a direct result of the previous generation(s). They grew up and were educated according to what was 'right' in those days. Perhaps it was ok for pregnant women not to smoke, for men not to cook, for children to be obedient etc. There were different societal standards and expectations.

Expectations are just unuttered thoughts; feelings unexpressed; attitudes not carried out. Of course, several expectations cannot be realized. For example, sunny weather is expected for tomorrow. It doesn't have to be that way. There's little I can do to necessarily influence something like that.

But when it comes to a community (city or nation), expectations can become expect-actions.

The death (or decay) of a society can be attributed to the inaction of the people that form its core. Whilst most of us are idle bystanders to the daily events in the world, it appears we have also forgotten our collective impact on matters worth fighting for. 

At the top of the list is the protection of our planet. Again, whether you believe it or not, God placed us in charge of His creation. We are to be stewards of paradise, not parasites of the earth. Thinking long-term, rather than short-term. As custodians of nature, we are called to intervene when parts of this glorious creation are being ruthlessly destroyed & trashed.

What we are currently witnessing is ecological rape and the slaughter of nature's innocence in epic proportions. Nobody feels or is held accountable for this! Hundreds of petitions might be launched, yet the ones responsible for carrying out the 'demolishment plans' are ultimately never convicted.

It is us – as an entire society – that have to recognize the danger of the previous generations turning nature's treasures to ash. We might expect there to be an improvement in the decades to come...but once certain resources are gone, they are GONE. There will not be some miraculous rising of the ecological phoenix.

You kill a tree, you kill the fruits for the generation to come. You kill a tree, you sometimes kill an ancient guardian of humanity, a fellow ally...a gentle giant worthy of protection, for it protects us from so many harsh consequences.

Coming back to the beginning: it is more than our outlook that has to change. Buying organic, local food doesn't make me a saint. It is just a vital first step. Dealing with the topic of conscious consumerism is fundamental for our generation. Being taught early on to respect nature and its many riches; to warn children of the real threats facing our species; to instill in them an attitude of preservation rather than exploitation; to show them how to treat food and other raw materials...that is the key to a bright future.

They cannot only be taught the concept of death. They have to see it for themselves. Not just the birds and the bees and the flowers and trees...but the consequences to our greed and the dangers we face. Children have to be shown what happens when they do not uphold a specific moral code...what happens, in particular, when they succumb to greed (in all areas of life).

It was only when I was 18 that I came across Dr. Seuss. Not too late to appreciate and adapt his words and take heed of people like the Once-ler ("The Lorax"). It was my teacher who truly made me understand the desperate need for practical action to save what precious little we still have. He spent many years taking on the illegal mining in Goa and published a book on it ("Eat the Dust", Hartman de Souza) – a great example of someone not just talking the talk.

As a society, we have a choice to come together and not just talk about some idealistic changes, but moreover BE and SEE THROUGH those changes.

This morning , I heard a report about the deforestation of rain forests in Colombia. It is utterly shocking and devastating!

I do believe there was a time when we humans were living in absolute harmony with our surroundings. We had a deep understanding of our relationship with nature and it was inter-dependent. Nature responded to our respect for it.

If you feel you cannot take a stand or join a particular movement, then I would urge you to at least offer some financial support to organizations that are really trying to make a difference.

Trees & forests are one thing. Don't get me started on wild- and sea life. Senseless killing of wild animals and sea creatures (or even killing for stupid reasons) is driving us towards death: the extinction of one species has irreversible consequences on the overall ecological order. That is an undeniable fact and should be heavily engrained in every human's mind!

As individuals, we are responsible to spread this message of protection and preservation...to lead by example, so others can follow suit. As long as the last tree still stands, there is hope we can pull through this and allow our planet to be revived.

Below, I am listing a few organizations I feel are worth supporting:

-          Plant for the Planet  (tree planting)

-          Sea Shepherd (marine preservation) 

-          The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

-          Wikipedia list of more organizations (by country)

Note: It's probably best to seek out organizations close to home and try help out locally!

a day called leap

Today marks the 5th leap day of the 21st century. There is quite the big history behind this quirky little day. It also gives us a breather and perhaps some extra, (much-needed) time to reflect further upon the things that have been happening in the past 16 years since this century began.

Tonight is not the time for me to do this. For me, it is truly a time to simply sit back and revel in my own thoughts.

Nonetheless, I do intend on posting some of these sooner rather than later...

a culture called convenience

I am angry.

My heart is filled with a clutter of emotions...but only anger is being filtered through to the outside.

It is not a mere annoyance with all that is wrong with this world. It is not a little outburst of frustration about 'stuff not working out'. It is not a childish hissy-fit, because I did not receive that what I want most.

It is a deep-seated longing for justice and an ingrained belief that we ALL deserve a great life. One where we are proud of ourselves and our achievements.

Bitterness is a like a drug. Resentment is like fuel to the fire of unforgiveness. Feelings are running amok and are out to take down everything and everyone that is in its way.

Taking control of these feelings is like reigning in the three-headed dog Cerberus. Retaining these feelings just brings about an explosive implosion that destroys vital organs.

Most people today are truly angry. Often I am amazed at how well everybody can act. They hide the outcry of their feelings behind so much other noise. On the outside, they appear like meagre, abiding lambs...but on the inside a storm is raging and a lion is roaring.

When the new year arrives, we place our hope in false expectations and the desire to fulfil our resolutions. We make plans. We come up with grand ideas and convince ourselves that a new year automatically means that something better is about to happen.

The world convinces and persuades us that we need more of this and more of that. We need to do more workout, look fitter, eat healthier, get a raise, find a new job, make more friends, travel more, have more gadgets, invest more etc.

And yet, we continue to live in self-denial. We evade the questions that matter most, because we fear the discomfort of heavily wrestling with them...and, God forbid, coming to an ugly conclusion.

Not only do we get stuck in a 'bubble', a comfort zone so to speak. That is a given. It's more than that. It's bigger than that. The dangerous road we are all driving down is becoming a culture of convenience.

The word originates from the Latin 'convent -> convenire', the assembly. Strangely, a convent became known as a place of solitude. A closed-off space where individuals would go to stay away from society in the pursuit of seeking a higher consciousness.

Today, our "higher consciousness" is measured by our consumption of material goods and adhering to a ridiculous standard of living. In Germany, many people are isolated...wandering islands that will only experience any form of assembly when they're gathered in the market place. That's where convenience comes from. In London there is still a place today called Covent Garden (derived from Convent Garden).

Our garden of Eden is a place where we think we have bought nature...where we have overcome evil, simply buy paying our small debt of sin. The great life is for the highest bidder.

Unfortunately, people are blind when it comes to seeing the truth reflected in the mirror. They are deaf when it comes to hearing a tune other than their own. The words we speak are at best a self-absorbing whisper in an empty room.

Who really cares about your ideals and unending thoughts? Will a politician be able to act on your behalf? Who represents you? All of you! Your fears, worries, dreams, beliefs...

Unless you wake up and observe the environment around you - objectively assessing the situation - the chances are that you will succumb to this culture of convenience.

Convenience feeds on complacency. Mediocrity is a fascination for and of itself. It is convenient for us to remain simply happy with who we are, not aspiring to being 'greater'.

It is convenient for us to join the mob...the populous...and engage our anger (or other feelings) in immoral activities. It is easy for us to stand on the shoulders of the weak and declare a personal victory. The attitude of one human being actually being better than another is utterly absurd. Humanity is about recognising the shared burden we all have to bear - together.

I am angry.

Whether it is righteous anger or not...sometimes the pain of watching suffering and injustice gets the better of me. I long for super-powers. To save those that get sand kicked in their eyes.

Right now, Germany is in the middle of a refugee 'crisis'. They call it 'mis-management' of people. Who is managing who? What is really going on? Where did things go wrong?

It is not convenient for us having to deal with "strangers". Life is complicated as it is already. We shy away from diving through the sea of paranoia and crushing waves the media is heaping on us. Who is the enemy?

Surely the enemy lies within me! The imprisoned voice attempting to break out and join the forces of evil. Make no mistake, it most certainly exists. It deceives me into thinking that my anger has been affected by another human being. I stand in the middle of a crowd and I am the only one who deserves to be there. Everything belongs to me, because I am above everyone else. My greed tells me that sharing is not caring...it is imperative to my survival. My pride tells me that nothing can hurt me - I am in fact invincible. My lust tells me that it is necessary for me to give in and 'just do it'.

It is so convenient to just say "fuck it"...to set my tongue free and whip the unworthy slaves around me. For mine is the kingdom and I am the king...of a land called delusion.

No, higher consciousness begins by embracing moral objectivism. It is about coming to a point where you and I can embrace each other as brother and sister of the same tribe. Regardless of the things that set us apart.

We ought to stand as an assembly of people uncompromising towards injustice and being lured into a false paradise. We ought to see evil for what it is and let ourselves not be distracted by lies, deception and our foolish, arrogant ways. We have but one thing that we are responsible for: ourselves. But we are nothing without the 'other', no matter who that other is. You are defined by those who look you in the eyes and recognise those many shared, hidden feelings.

I am angry...but I am not alone.   

an illusion called reality

I am sitting in a hotel room in Vienna. The writings on the wall say:

"Illusion is the first of all pleasures."

This really got me thinking. Is illusion really the first of all pleasures? How can something 'fake' be any pleasure at all?

One of my favourite lines ever written in a play comes from Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie", where the main character Tom says:

"I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion."

This has always been the way I have regarded theatre - and acting at large: as a means to lead someone towards the truth, in the disguise of illusion. Not the other way around.

Today, however, each individual is involved in a personal war. This is a battle he or she often fights alone, because our world has manufactured the perfect lie, which everyone can afford. It is sold at every corner and just adds to the inner turmoil and struggle to make sense of this world. This lie tells us: what ever makes you feel good, or gives you the highest amount of pleasure, is worth idolising and committing your life (and energy) to. Illusion is ignoring what is really going on and deluding oneself into thinking it is what everybody else does. Heads down, marching on!

Therefore, illusion wants us to think it is the first of all pleasures. In reality, illusion is the instrument of social and moral decay. We are given false promises that a customised world-view eventually leads to the truth and some sort of enlightenment. A pick and choose existence. (Not a Pikachu existence. Although life has become like choosing the right pokémon in order to 'win the game'.)

Some search their whole lives to simply figure out what this life is really about. Others prefer to just live in the moment and enjoy that attitude because they believe that's what it ultimately is about. CARPE DIEM - until they realise that seizing the day doesn't bring them closer to whatever truth they're looking for.

Yesterday, it was Guy Fawkes Day. The British commemorate this day with bonfires, a reminder that the King (James I) managed to escape the assassination. This was a plot by Catholics to reinstate a Catholic monarch. As if a Catholic king would have made a difference to the common man...

What does a man want? What does he desire? A few generations ago, people may have answered: work, a family, a home, daily bread and shelter from the cold. These are mostly tangible things. And we tend to place our hopes and dreams in material goods. That is why we call them 'goods'. They are not 'evils'. We believe certain things can truly make us happy.

But getting back to Guy Fawkes. Our greatest illusion today is that we are victims of an evil system ruling the world. It certainly affects many people to the point where paranoida and cynicism just drives them crazy. I had my fair share of that!

In our hearts, we are all Guy Fawkes. We plot to remove the things (or people) that cause injustice in our lives. We burn for the truth, so much so that we are willing to light the fire in our souls until it explodes and those around become collateral damage.

We are not called to accept the corruption, greed and utter imbalance of the scales of justice in the world. Far from it! We are expected to take a stand - in a non-extreme manner. Fighting fire with fire has been done throughout the centuries. As the man protesting on the street, we must come up with a better way to bring about change.

All our shouts, words, stone-throwing and graffitis make no difference in the eyes of powerful leaders. They are in high places that cannot be reached by the everyday person. And if there are people who want to take them on...their way to the top is so long and hard, that by the end, they are just as corrupt and greedy. As we move to the top, we lose a lot of the baggage that makes us who we are and change our clothing more than once.

We are disillusioned by the illusions placed in front of us on a daily basis. We lose touch to what actually matters. Building the world around us. If you cannot conquer the mountain, then take care of the surrounding valley. It is a valley full of shadows and needs our attention.

The revolution in the history of the world that made the most sense, was the one led by Jesus. He did not (directly) take on the powers of the day and attack the "government" for what it is not doing. He knew all along that governments come and go. But His kingdom was supposed to be completely different. It was going to be build by the common man and woman, those honest workers facing hardships 24/7/365.

Yes, we may have righteous anger towards those driving our earth to ruins. Nevertheless, anger can often distract us from what we should actually focus on: shatter the illusions set up around us. How can one live in comfort, while there are millions left hungry and without shelter at the end of a day? Jesus did not dwell in a palace. He was very pragmatic, going out and communicating with the people on the street. And provided that He was (*and is) who He claimed He was (*is), then we have all reason to believe that God himself will take care of the corrupt and greedy hearts of men. Especially those who rule over others.

I feel that is a comforting truth one can hold on to. You see, Jesus is for everybody. You don't have to do anything as a Christian except accepting the truth He offered (and thus would count as the one and only truth) and follow His ways of a revolution. Jesus gave us truth in the unpleasant and gruesome death at the cross. His resurrection was the logical (and surprising) conclusion to that truth.

This truth inspires all men and women who come to know it, to continue a revolution that is very human at its core. The war within us that I mentioned above can only be won when we share our burdens with others. When we wrestle with the truth together and encourage each other in the fight for justice and other honourable goals.

Instead of going out in the streets and wearing those masks used in the movie "V for Vendetta" - a story about revenge - we should be wearing masks of love, kindness and forgiveness towards those who are just as fallible as we are. THAT is the most difficult thing to do, because we desire revenge and think we ourselves are the best possible avengers.

The truth is right outside your doorstep, waiting to come in. It has tremendous power and will change you from the inside out, until you stop searching for the truth, but rather live it! The arrival at this truth, is the departure for a new life.  

a paradox called duplicity

I find it amazing how much cats can sleep. 

My cat gets up in the morning to have breakfast, walks around outside, comes back in…and sleeps. Until the afternoon. Then gets up, eats a snack, walks around…and sleeps. Meanders about before dinner…and then obviously the nocturnal instincts kick in. At least they should. But with domesticated cats, they’d rather stay warm and cosy inside. In summer they obviously go out more than winter. But we have taken what once was a ‘wild’ animal and provided it with a cushy home. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am a lover of pets…But it still seems slightly absurd. 

We have moved far away from the days when animals weren’t just our pets…but actually our co-workers. As a shepherd, having a dog would help. As a cow herder (“cowboy”), having a horse would help. As a farmer, having an ox would help.

First off, allow me to make it clear that I do not lament the times we are in now. These are simply a few observations.

Time, it is said, is money. Money, others claim, is power. Power, depending on who you ask, is success…and control. But after that entire process, nobody really controls time. Nobody has managed to age slower. Time has evaded our control since the beginning of…well…time. 

We use time as a device to punctuate our process on a daily basis. Take work, for example. 

The 40-hr working week has become the norm - at least in the Western world. Who came up with the idea to set in stone a fixed working time? 

We can look at history and agree that the Industrial Revolution at the beginning of the 19th century brought about major societal and economical changes. People who were fortunate enough to own land and factories, decided that they could, in fact, control the working hours of their workers. They could also determine the value of the time invested by these workers. While all this was happening, more and more ‘entitled’ people decided that they would have to own more…make more profit…have more control. Control land, control manufacturing, control products, control workers. 

As we look at the world today, we see little resistance towards the ways established by a few people all those decades ago. Resistance has always been crushed. Workers may strike, but the moment they receive a little attention and slightly more pay, they continue to obey. 

We keep our heads down, because we know that when we look up, we cannot shy away from the injustice done to others (including ourselves). Most of us don’t even know what we are actually working for. Comfort? Towards a concrete goal? An amazing fulfilling achievement? Or simply to just to pay the next bills? 

Christians are called to be a part of this world, but not in it. This is a big problem. It is a huge issue to face secular problems with an engine driven by a heavenly ('sacred')mindset. I firmly believe it is the greatest struggle for a Christian in the 21st century. 

Let us be honest, Christians often fail to distinguish between ‘earthly’ and ‘heavenly’. We join all secular activities and approach things we don’t approve of with a frown. To the outsider it may seem like we are all part of a clown show, and Christians are the serious clown unable to make the audience smile. 

What do we actually do about it? Many Christians live exactly like their not-yet Christian friends. The only difference is that they go to church on a Sunday. That’s it. 

Going to church does not make you a Christian. Following Christ does. 

Following Christ means not following anything else. 

Nonetheless, we have to admit that sometimes we are caught up in the hypocrisy of it all. One example came up the other day: 

On the one hand we feel moved to help all the refugees streaming into this country, but on the other hand we have forgotten about the people who are already in our country struggling, e.g. orphans, widows/widowers, prostitutes, mentally ill etc.  

We worry about an Islamic invasion…terrorist cells cropping up everywhere around us…and then we go do Yoga the next morning. Health is one of the many new idols and we are willing to compromise our spirituality for it. 

(For more two intriguing articles on Yoga and the clash with Christianity go here: 

“Christian or Yoga”, “A Hindu view on ‘Christian Yoga’ “.)

We worry about the loud salesman at the door, whilst we forget the thieves that silently wander the night.

In this kaleidoscope of emotions and attitudes, where all colours seem to merge, we have to discern what colour God wants us to use in our walk with Him. Any revolution begins with the motivation and attitude that precedes it. 

If we truly want Heaven to come down to Earth, we have to reproach our domesticated (and secular driven) ways. We were called to be “wild” Christians - carrying the indelible stamp of our Creator. In Christ, we are free. 

Who do we believe we are called to be, and how do we express it? 

How do we reject the ways of the world and simultaneously be a light unto others? 

Each individual must wrestle with these questions. 

Thank God that He is our shepherd, our cow herder, and our farmer. Thank the Holy Spirit that is the dog, the horse, and the ox. Thank Jesus that He is Lord of all. The inventor of time. The real hope and achievement in our lives. 

a prostitute called logic

today, the 21st March, marks Human Rights Day in South Africa. yesterday was the official beginning of Spring...and in Germany we were able to witness a partial solar eclipse.

what do all three of these events have in common? allow me to explain...

for some time now, I've wondered why the world does not follow the law of logic. this morning, i read an article in a German magazine dedicated to explaining how supermarkets employ tricks to fool the consumer. the majority of the population realises what the supermarkets do, but they still fall for the tricks. it makes no sense whatsoever. It's as if our mind has an internal battle and by the end, it just gives up.

let me give you an example: the article mentions how supermarkets make use of the '0,99 cent' rule. apparently, when people see an item for €2,99, their mind will round it down to €2 instead of the clearly obvious €3. What?!?!?

it follows that, according to this example, the majority of the educated society are useless and succumb to a ridiculous mind-game. what was the point of learning mathematics if this example applies to even just 5 out of 10 consumers?

i mention this, because recently i've re-considered the absurdity of world economics: 1 + 1 does not equal 2. if that were the case, all food would be distributed evenly and nobody would starve to death...there is more than enough to go around.

which brings me to the idea of a 'human rights day'. who decided what rights we have? i think the most important right humans have is not to be lied to on a daily basis. but this right is continuously violated. surely, our way of life, unbeknownst to us, is affected by these many lies. in regard to our consumer culture, do we really know the full truth?

Where does this product come from?...Was it really fair-trade?...Did somebody have to die so that I can eat this?...Is it really worth this much money?... etc.

only last night, a friend working in the coffee industry told me that Germany is one of the few countries with a coffee tax. per kg, you pay €2,19 coffee tax! ...oh, so now you might say: it's not a lie when you don't know about it! so it is my fault as an ignorant consumer, right?

the Truth is: we're happy to be lied to. those who really want to know the truth about, say, consumer products, will have to go to great lengths in order to find their answers. moral principles, unfortunately, have no place in a capitalist-driven system. therefore, we're all hypocrites. walking, eating, and defecating contradictions. we say or believe one thing, then go ahead and do the opposite.  most of this is completely unintentional! being a conscious consumer requires hard work. and due to  most us already doing hard work earning money, we're too lazy and tired to invest our energy in "doing the right thing".


with the beginning of spring, I personally feel hopeful that the next generation will question the way of the world. And counter-act the lies thrown at them by governments and corporate companies. They must come to see the truth behind who really runs the world - guard their souls from being prostituted and their hearts from being corrupted. More and more people no longer want to be blind and engage in the fight for true human rights.

another right we have is to preserve (and enjoy) the riches of this planet. since the industrial revolution, certain rights were taken from the general population. our right to own a piece of land, for instance. that is a luxury hardly anybody can afford. in addition, an elite is in charge of the (natural) resources of our planet. we make those people richer, because we are forced to buy certain materials. take petrol as an example. if you dig into this topic, you'd be overwhelmed with concern for our planet's state. there's over-fishing, over-forestation, over-consumption...it's like we're on a see-saw with that over-weight child. we just sit there and watch him enjoying the view from above. the one thing we can do is get off the see-saw and see him heavily plunge back down to earth.

this earth belongs to you and i. it was entrusted to us. we marvel at the greatness of the universe and watch the solar eclipse. we explore the vast space above our heads, without looking down towards the ground we tread on. the footsteps each one of us takes are more vital than counting the stars. we're privileged to roam this planet and shouldn't take it for granted. the enemy we face is the one who destroys morality - that hard drive we're all born with to distinguish between right and wrong.

on this first Spring Saturday, let's reflect on our human rights and remember the awesomeness of this world, despite its many flaws. we're in this together. we all watch the sun come up in the morning and go down at night. as long as that happens, we're all fighting on the same side.

i leave you with a beautiful quote by the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley:

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

a future called justice

all for one, one for all.

this adage was made popular by alexandre dumas' "three musketeers". it contains a simplistic appeal for loyalty, solidarity, and justice. it is a phrase that each country would do well to adapt into their government policies.

loyalty is a choice to stick to something or somebody no matter what happens. often we are forced to change our loyalty towards a person or a product, because it goes against our fundamental beliefs.

i'm constantly amazed by the wrong that is done throughout the world. the sheer absurdity of injustice and unfair scenarios.

it starts with me walking into the supermarket and having to choose a product (or brand).

when you look at fruits and vegetables, you might have been driven to complete paranoia about pesticides and genetically modified food. After all, fruits are 'natural'. You cannot really turn them around and expect to see a label reading 'Pesticides 75%'. You might even decide to go for the local products. But what if I want a mango? There's no way, I will ever get a Bavarian mango. So I have to pick the only mango that is available in this shop.

it says the mango is from India. great! care to pinpoint at least the region it is from? the same is true for other exotic fruits and vegetables.

yesterday, i saw a documentary on "fair trade" and how the original fair trade movement has been corrupted by the huge food corporations (Unilever, Nestle etc.). they have bought the label and are using it to their advantage. we, the common consumer, have so little knowledge of what really goes on. be it tea or coffee plantations or factories or what not. there is injustice across the board.

terrible wages. awful working conditions. ethical abuse. sexism and sexual harassment. the list is long.

and yet we, the common consumer, are walking into the supermarket and buying a product that is more expensive than the actual value of production. even the workers receive only a fraction of its selling value.

it continues with me walking into clothing stores, where it's impossible to tell whether or not the H&M t-shirt was made in a different place to the shirts from Hugo Boss. most labels simply state: Made in Bangladesh, China or some other Asian country.

the world of branding is strangely obscure. we live in a consumer society that is trapped on a misty hilltop. we don't buy the brand. we buy the lie that is perfectly wrapped up in a foil of truth. we buy the brand that has the cutest ribbon. we buy the vibrant colours. we buy the form, and forget about the content.

i love reflecting on the past. but i also enjoy speculating on the future. we all paint our own picture(s) of what the future might hold. i'm worried about the superficial lifestyle, which is being passed down to the next generation. we are prisoners of conformity.

and reformation is once again regarded as the greatest rebellion an individual can bring to the table.

society is a strong entity. it's like a river of lava that won't stop for no one. to change the perception of a society, we must reform the different groups within it. this is why schools and the education system are so extremely important. this is why the future belong to teachers. they are the ones who are contributing to re-shaping the minds of the new generation.

tell me that that's not the most important job of all.

however, teachers are more individual than ever...and there is no common approach to the idea of moral reformation. or can you remember a class in 'general ethics' or 'dealing with the world's injustice'?

individualism is a wonderful thing. no doubt! but how amazing would it be if people were on the same page when it comes to topics that are hindering the progress of humanity and this earth we were called to look after? what if we all had the same understanding of 'justice'?

we would truly be looking forward to a pleasant, exciting future. we wouldn't worry about wars, global warming, overfishing, overeating, overbreeding, overstarving...poverty, slavery, sexual immorality and more.

what if we lived everyday as if we are living it for all, and everybody else is living their day as if it was for us? perhaps our lives would dramaticall change if we stuck a little 'all for one, one for all' into our daily routines.

a world called life

life often borders on the absurd.

some of you may have noticed this.

we live to strive for our ambitions...cling on to our dreams...resort to hope as our inner driving force. all this is necessary in the face of inevitable let-down. losing is a logical consequence of our desire to constantly win. defeat is the great humbler...the breaks to our, seemingly, never-ending fast track.

i've realised that nothing truly prepares you for the challenges you encounter in the "real" world. this world has a sobering effect on those who believe roses are red every day. the number one cause of depression, alcoholism, drug abuse etc. has to be disillusionment. at school, we're made to believe we can achieve anything we want. it's about us. it's about me. it's about what i can do with my own strength to succeed. (and possibly with the help of people in "high places".)

we admire those who hold on to their ideals, against all odds. we want to have a ROCKY experience. bounce back from hitting rock-bottom, returning with greater determination to win. we want to be fighters. we want to be the drivers of our destiny.

however, despite the many stories out there exemplifying that sort of experience, we remain individuals who simply want to LIVE. we might have the secret wish to be famous, but in the end all we really want is to be recognised. not for our talent, our potential or our work.

we want to be recognised for who we are - as a human-being. i came across this phrase: we are called human-beings, not human-doings. we have bought into the lie that we are worth our work. hence, people give up their dreams & ideals to join the world's massive capitalist working force.

after all, we are bombarded with consumerist propaganda over hundreds of times each and every day.

buy this, buy that.

you need this, you need that.

this guy has this, so you definitely have to get with the program and purchase it as well.

comparison is the devil in disguise. we constantly want what others have. and we hardly ever look at the blessings of our own life. it's a sickening drug we're infused with from morning till evening.

the system isn't the biggest problem. it's us. we ourselves are the biggest barrier; to allow change to take place in our hearts, minds and souls. all we truly want is to wake up in the morning feeling content with who we are, what we do, and being surrounded by people who love us.

i believe human-beings aren't that complicated. their lives have been made complex by circumstances, often which they cannot control. they just want to BE. in peace. with love. understanding and compassion.

it all goes back to the idea that we are free to choose. the only thing we can really prepare on a daily basis is ourselves. we're able to prepare our hearts for the things that are to come.

disillusionment is a definite. the truth is that we are free. when it comes to choosing how we respond to the daily circumstances arising in our life, we are free. and it's difficult. it's easier to lay down all weapons and surrender. to just hop on the ferries wheel and go round and round, without ever trying that other, more exciting ride.

we must learn to commit to our ideals. compromise is vital, but can also be a fatal blow to the structure you've attempted to put in place.

we must embrace the challenges set before us, as if they're the steps to something more wonderful and rewarding.

if you question the reason of your existence, then look no further as to knowing deep inside that life was given to you in order to grow. and that in every aspect - emotionally, physically and spiritually.

when we look at current world news, it is tough to feel encouraged. for four weeks, football dominates the world. i love football - but it's just a sport. we take our eyes off what's really going on. we are "entertained", and entertainment no longer proves to be an eye-opener. more frequently it is starting to blind us.

there was a time when people searched for meaning. today, we seem to be happy with whatever is given to us, as long as we can sit in an awesome car, with our new phone, our new computer, our new house, our new pet, our new girlfriend, and other new, amazing gadgets. there are thousands of apps to keep us distracted. just look on the App Store. many apps are incredible and designed to help you sort out your life.

how about using the app called "iPresent" - the I AM PRESENT and conscious of my surroundings, the world that i inhabit.  aware of others, treating them with kindness & trying my all to love them (even though it can be the greatest challenge!)

you might laugh at the ten commandments. well, don't treat them as commandments. but rather as God's 10 great advices for living life. personally, i cannot see how it wouldn't benefit you if you didn't try follow them for a while and see what happens.

yet, the most important of all is to LOVE. love changes you, and it changes others. it begins with the words you speak...words of hope, encouragement, aspiration and power.

if you want to piss off the world that is giving you a rough time, then simply send it a flying kiss - like you mean it - and throw thousands of plus signs towards the oncoming minus missiles.

success is measured by the human-being you ARE and strive to become. nothing can compare to that.  because you're journey is unique. even if it is absurd, that is the genuine, REAL Truth.

a place called safe

The last few weeks there have been several events  that have given me lots to think about.

Sometimes, it just takes a little longer to receive inspiration. 

But actually, I'm quite dismayed by what's been happening. For starters, there's the ongoing crisis in Syria (which has been placed in the background of world news), the Ukrainian uprising and Russia 'annexing' the Crimea...and elections in Bavaria. 

For some reason, there are still plenty of people in this world who can't claim to live in a safe place. To have a home that is protected. To grow a family living in peace and prosperity...enjoying life and receiving opportunities to improve it. And to be surrounded by a community that supports them and values their contribution.

I believe it comes down to the leaders who govern countries. Too often, individuals who come into power do not seek guidance. They do not build a versatile team that brings different gifts to the table. More often than not, leaders themselves are insecure, troubled by paranoia...obsessed with their power. The tyrannical (and ruthless) leader has survived into the 21st century. He is very much alive! And he causes his own people to suffer, because his pride forbids him to let go. 

Revolutions MUST follow a higher purpose. Just because a handful of people are upset with a situation, they cannot simply overthrow the leadership of the system they are part of. There needs to be a consensus on the situation. Nowadays, there are many uprisings that cause more problems for a country or community than trying to go down the diplomatic route. Of course, if diplomacy fails, one has to search for other ways to get the required attention. 

Yet too often, these are improvised revolutions. They embrace the chaos...the anarchy...and the resulting violence. Who are the real victims? The innocent man, woman and child that merely want a happy and safe life. 

In our own lives, we have to consider the effects of us lashing out at other people. On a daily basis, we have the choice to create our own individual revolutions. A revolution is to change one's lifestyle...or one's approach to a certain subject. 

For one, in Germany we are given the right to vote for our leaders. And this is a huge responsibility. We aren't forced to vote. If there's no leader you trust, then why vote? It only makes sense if you truly believe that somebody will help bring about positive changes in your country/city/community. If you look closely, though, you realize that leaders employ many 'tricks' to influence your vote. One has to be cautious and evaluate the candidates, their ideas, plans etc. HOWEVER, a man's word has lost its power and credibility. How often have you been disappointed by somebody promising you something...and not following through. 

Therefore, the true revolution of a country starts at the root of the smallest community - the family. A family is a miniature version of a community. It is here where values, behaviour and other human qualities are taught and learned. If the family fails to establish and raise children that obey a certain set of principles, then they will move into the next community - school - and negatively impact others around them. It sounds simple, but that's because I think it is! 

Nonetheless, it is a vicious circle. If the family isn't a safe haven for the individual - a place where he/she feels love and support - then it comes down to another community to restore the individual's health. We are obligated to reach out to those 'damaged' people and help them become restored. It is in our best interest to work on a healthy community. We profit from that general joy within the individual. We profit from encouragement. We profit from BUILDING, not destroying. 

This world is a critical place, filled with plenty of judgement. So let's focus on the qualities that really matter and spur productive revolutions - within ourselves and the people around us. Like I said, it is only in our best interest to belong to a healthy community...to live in a place called safe!

a whisper called dignity

The 20th January is marked as "Martin Luther King Day". In recent years, I have annually reflected upon Dr. King's legacy and the moral diseases that plague humanity in this century.

Yesterday, my wife and I went to the cinema to watch "12 Years A Slave", a film based on the true story of Solomon Northup. And at the end, you're left to wonder about the many sick & twisted fates of millions of slaves all around the world. Just like my wife pointed out: slavery continues in the form of human trafficking. We have just 'updated' the name. Especially women (of all ages) are abducted, given different identities and sold into the most horrible trade of all: the sex trade.

People (especially children) are still forced to work. Women (AND men) are forced to take part in hideous & grotesque sexual acts, be it as prostitutes, slaves or in front of the cameras of perverted film-makers.

The first month of 2014 has almost passed, and the media has reported two rape cases in India. Mainly because the victims were foreigners. Yet, statistics say that a woman is raped in India every 20 minutes. The majority of these acts remain silent out of fear. Not even a whisper of dignity is left. Not even a cry to say: Stop! No more of this!

Hope is the mountain standing strong, without having to worry that it will send an avalanche down to bury us all. Faith is moving that same mountain and allowing the avalanche to bury our enemy. In whatever situaton we might find ourselves in, we can never forget who the real enemy is. He is the valley of despair, the great sea luring us into its crushing waves of deceit. He is the one who promises you false riches in return for your loyalty. Like a piglet sucking an empty teat, believing that our faith in the enemy will be rewarded.

When you think about it, we are all enslaved by the thoughts in our heads. The every day struggle to find the motivation to make this day count...to not waste away any of the precious time we've been given on earth. We firmly believe that we were called into this world to make a difference. And the difference can be made, simply by working on our mindset...by engaging in a war that is deeply personal: the war within our moral & spiritual universe.

We have an inclination for which side to choose. But the line separating our ally from our foe is often blurred. We get caught up on the playground of life, distracted by all the artificial joy. We know it's just as much fun to be climbing up the tree, but the swings and the slides are flashy, colourful, and look so much better.

Personally, I feel far removed from the war on slavery in today's world. It is one of the biggest and darkest industries in our age. But Martin Luther King called us to 'live the dream' he described and I believe by that he meant to free ourselves from our own shackles of mental slavery. To rid our hearts from the racist bias...and the guilt we may feel. To confront the darkness we harbour and give shelter to in our souls.

Racism, and the superiority of one people over another, is a seed in everyone's historicity. Now we can decide to nurture that rotten plant, or ignore it entirely. The 20th century prophets addressed the freedom of the individual and the revolution of the collective. In the 21st century, I would appeal to the freedom of the collective and the revolution of the individual. Simply because, when we come together as a collective, we must be a group that embraces versatility and, like a cavalry carrying a multitude of arms, charge against the evil of this world. Like a rainbow, every colour is necessary for nature's beautiful spectacle.

Racism is not a ghost from the past. It is an entity that lives on in all of us. And we cannot leave a single window open for it to enter into our house. In case that it does slip through underneath a door, we must be prepared to ring a bell - loudly - and declare the words "Let freedom ring", for racism cannot survive in a place of true & real freedom. And that is our task in this century: to bring about this 'true' freedom for all mankind. No matter the cost. This world already paid too much of a price for evil to still roam our homes in 2014.  

Here a great song by Nina Simone dedicated to Martin Luther King: